Clubbing Down

"You know, today was a day that I didn't quite have it," said Woods. "But I scored. And that's the name of the game, posting a number, and I did today. I grinded my way around that golf course.

"I'll just go out there and execute my game plan. It all starts with what the weather is doing, and then I build it from there. We'll see what I do tomorrow."

Unlike in a second-round 61 that could easily have been a 59 or even lower, Woods didn't recover from all of his errant shots. He bogeyed the ninth, 14th and 16th holes, failing to bounce back from wayward shots.

Yet he still was good enough to put himself in position for yet another lopsided victory, one that will likely mark him as the player to beat next week in the PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

"Any time you can go into a major tournament or any tournament with a win under your belt, it's nice," Woods said. "It validates what you're working on and you have some nice momentum going in there."

Henrik Stenson is his nearest challenger after a third-round 67 left him eight under. Jason Dufner sits in third one shot back after going three under for the day.

Luke Donald moved to six under with a round of 68 to tie compatriot Chris Wood and American Bill Haas for fourth place.